National Sons Day
Molding our sons into responsible men can either be seen as a perilous journey or an opportunity to grow as a human beings. On National Sons Day, every March 4 and September 28, we think about our boys and the legacy we leave behind as parents. More than that, we take the time to listen to our boys — to hear their dreams or fears and thoughts on changing the world. We all have a role to play. Men and women. Educators. Professionals at all levels.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL SONS DAY
National Sons Day has taken on new meaning as we head into the third decade of the 21st century. The #metoo era is long overdue — and society can no longer overlook the importance of raising our boys with this in mind. The good news? A crucial national conversation has begun — finally.
Parents of sons today face challenges that seem so obvious — yet no one saw coming. Who could have predicted the stunning downfall of so many of America’s most famous and powerful men in so little time? The list of names sent shock waves through the world of entertainment, media, tech, and politics. And no one knows where we’re headed next.
One thing’s for sure — it all starts with teaching (and modeling) respect.
Here’s lifestyle writer (and dad) Christopher Dale in a recent article for Motherly: “Parents of boys are in a precarious position, one where the rules of inter-gender engagement seem to be in constant flux. As society understandably amplifies the voices of accusers, we find ourselves raising the potentially accused.”
Accused and accusers. That’s a lot for our kids to handle. So how do moms and dads navigate these treacherous waters? There’s no simple answer. We’re in uncharted territory here — and this discussion needs to go on for as long as it takes. Preparing our boys for this will require a level of guidance and communication that our predecessors in parenthood could never have envisioned – and that we have yet to fully grasp.
Aside from that, men have struggled with the stereotype of showing strength without fear or compassion. Luckily, as society incorporates “emotional” equity in the workplace and at home, we’re all redefining what it means to be a good son — and a good man.
NATIONAL SONS DAY ACTIVITIES
1.Enjoy A Healthy Breakfast
Start the day off right by enjoying a healthy breakfast with your son. Three Bridges Egg Bites is offering a free Egg Bite to provide the healthy start to the day Americans are looking for while easily fitting into their busy schedules.
2.Stress Gender Equality
Make it clear that what each of you does as a parent is determined by your skills, interests, and what works best for the family — not your gender.
3.Encourage a #metoo conversation
Spend time discussing the recent events surrounding this movement. Boys must grow up with a healthy respect for both men and women. Parents — especially dads — need to model this behavior at every opportunity.
WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL SONS DAY
A. Boys to men
National Sons Day reminds all of us to set high standards for our boys. Gender roles are shifting faster now than ever before. The day presents an opportunity for parents to take the lead on this.
B. Emotional support
From Dr. Meg: “While a mother’s encouragement for her son is most effective in the form of emotional support, a father’s encouragement is most effective in the form of words. A father’s words hold all the power to make or break his son.”
C. Kindness and sensitivity
We can’t stress this enough. Let’s pledge to make National Son Day a time to reevaluate what we’re teaching our boys. The next generation of men depends on our success as parents.
References:
“National Sons Day” │ https://nationaltoday.com/national-sons-day/